Moving to Serbia from Ukraine

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Ukraine to Serbia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Ukraine to Serbia, you would find that Serbia is 75.6% more expensive than Ukraine overall. A UAH3,340,036 salary in Ukraine would need to be roughly RSD10,172,659 in Serbia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Serbian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ukraine to Serbia.

What does your salary buy?

UAH3,340,036 RSD10,172,659

To maintain the same standard of living in Serbia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 2.5 times more

Groceries

pay 34.6% more

Transportation

pay 70.4% more

Housing

pay 2.3 times more

Childcare

pay 26.0% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 72.8% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UAH = 2.31 RSD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Serbia cost about 69% more than cities in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

Serbia

Novi Sad 43%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ukraine to Serbia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
1,297 ↑ 2% vs 2015

people born in Ukraine live in Serbia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Serbia?

Top countries of origin for Serbia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ukraine to Serbia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UA
3.8
RS
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
10.5
RS
7.4

Serbia performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UA
$1,382
RS
$2,303
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

UA
29.9
RS
28.4

Ukraine generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UA
66.0
RS
45.0

Serbia performs significantly better than Ukraine across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UA
18.3
RS
29.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UA
12.3%
RS
5.7%

Serbia generally does better on infrastructure, though Ukraine leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UA
9.8%
RS
8.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UA
$16,200
RS
$24,500

Serbia generally does better on employment & economy, though Ukraine leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UA
73.5 yrs
RS
74.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UA
7.3
RS
4.8

Ukraine generally does better on family life, though Serbia leads in life expectancy.

Data: Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Belgrade Rain: 26.9 in/yr (683 mm)
62° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kiev Belgrade
Jan–Mar 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) 45°/33°F (7°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) 71°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 79°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) 53°/39°F (11°/4°C)
View all months
Month Kiev Belgrade
Jan 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C)
Feb 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C)
Mar 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C)
May 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C)
Jun 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C)
Jul 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C)
Aug 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C)
Oct 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C)
Nov 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C)
Dec 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C)

Data: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ukraine and Serbia. To live, work, or study long-term in Serbia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Serbia's immigration authority.

Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting Serbia

Visa Free
Ukraine passport holders can enter Serbia without a visa.
Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Free
Serbia passport holders can enter Ukraine without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Serbia than Ukraine?

No — Serbia is on average about 32% more expensive than Ukraine. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Serbia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RSD2,543,165 in Serbia on a UAH3,340,036 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Serbia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Serbia has 29.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Serbia safe for expats?

Serbia performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Serbia is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.8 in Ukraine.

How is healthcare in Serbia compared to Ukraine?

Ukraine generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Serbia leads in adult obesity rate. There are 28.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Serbia, compared to 29.9 in Ukraine. Serbia scores 72 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ukraine: 76).

What's the weather like in Serbia compared to Ukraine?

The average high temperature in Belgrade is 62°F, compared to 56°F in Kiev. Belgrade receives around 26.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kiev gets 23.8 in.

What language do they speak in Serbia?

The official language in Serbia is Serbian. In Ukraine, the official language is Ukrainian.

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At a Glance

UA RS
Population 43,528,136 6,739,471
Currency Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Languages Ukrainian Serbian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +380 +381
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112